#9622
CESAR E. CHAVEZ
FILM IDEAS, INC., 2002
Grade Levels: 9-13+
22 minutes
1 Instructional Graphic Enclosed
DESCRIPTION
Highlights the early life and activist years of Cesar Chavez,
migrant worker who founded the National Farm Workers Association (now known as the United
Farm Workers), who successfully improved working conditions for thousands of farmworkers.
ACADEMIC STANDARDS
Subject Area:
United States History – Era 9 – Postwar United States (1945 to early
1970s)
 Standard: Understands the struggle for racial and gender equality and for the extension of
civil liberties
•
Benchmark: Understands how diverse groups united during the civil rights movement
(e.g., the escalation from civil disobedience to more radical protest, issues that led to
the development of the Asian Civil Rights Movement and the Native American Civil
Rights Movement, the issues and goals of the farm labor movement and La Raza Unida)
(See Instructional Goals #1 and 2.)
INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS
1. To depict how Cesar Chavez worked to achieve the liberties and equality promised in the
principles of American democracy and to improve the lives of people.
2. To examine the ways Cesar Chavez advanced the cause of human rights, equality, and the
common good.
3. To illustrate the various influences on Cesar Chavez’s life.
VOCABULARY
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
barrio
fast (to not eat)
self-educated
pesticide
legacy
activist
undocumented workers
posthumously
boycott
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Captioned Media Program
VOICE (800) 237-6213 TTY (800) 237-6819 FAX (800) 538-5636 EMAIL [email protected] WEB www.cfv.org
Funding for the Captioned Media Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Education
BEFORE SHOWING
1. Briefly describe each of the following historical
events and persons:
a. The Great Depression
b. Rosa Parks
c. Martin Luther King Jr.
d. Robert Kennedy
e. Bill Clinton
2. Locate the following places on a map of the
United States: Yuma, Arizona and San Jose,
California.
AFTER SHOWING
Discussion Items and Questions
1. Discuss Cesar Chavez’s family life.
a. How did the Great Depression affect the Chavez family?
b. What events prompted the Chavez family to move to California?
c. Why did Cesar not do well in school?
d. What led Chavez to work in the produce fields?
2. Discuss Cesar Chavez’s accomplishments as an activist.
a. What was Chavez’s first act of civil protest? How does this compare with Rosa Parks act
of civil protest?
b. How did Don McDonnell and Fred Ross influence Chavez?
c. What was the Braceros Program? Why did Chavez confront it?
d. What led Chavez to found the National Farm Workers Association?
e. What were the effects of the boycott against growers of table grapes?
f. What was Chavez response to use of pesticides in the fields?
3. Discuss Cesar Chavez’s legacy.
a. What recognition did Chavez receive acknowledging his work?
b. Why did “Life” magazine call Chavez “the Ghandi of the fields”?
Applications and Activities
1. Investigate other individuals that won similar awards as Chavez. Consider winners of the
Aztec Eagle and the Medal of Freedom.
2. Visit a museum or educational center which illustrates the history of the farm labor
movement and the significant role of Cesar Chavez.
3. Research individuals who had a great influence on Chavez’s life. Consider Ghandi, Martin
Luther King Jr., Robert Kennedy, St. Francis of Assisi, and Jesse Jackson.
4. Investigate the origins and history of labor unions in the United States and throughout the
world.
a. How have they succeeded and failed to represent union members?
b. What industries have labor unions been most involved in?
c. Who are past and present popular labor union presidents?
d. What issues do union representatives negotiate on behalf of their members?
e. What is the role and purpose of labor unions?
5. Complete the vocabulary crossword puzzle. (See Instructional Graphics.)
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Captioned Media Program
VOICE (800) 237-6213 TTY (800) 237-6819 FAX (800) 538-5636 EMAIL [email protected] WEB www.cfv.org
Funding for the Captioned Media Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Education
RELATED RESOURCES
CAPTI
NED
CAPTI
NED
MEDIA
MEDIA PROGRAM
PROGRAM
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Mahatma Gandhi: Pilgrim of Peace #8316
World Wide Web
The following Web sites complement the contents of this guide; they were selected by
professionals who have experience in teaching deaf and hard of hearing students.
Every effort was made to select accurate, educationally relevant, and “kid safe” sites.
However, teachers should preview them before use. The U.S. Department of
Education, the National Association of the Deaf, and the Captioned Media Program do
not endorse the sites and are not responsible for their content.
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UNITED WORKERS: FARM HISTORY
http://www.ufw.org/history.htm
This page of the United Farm Workers site includes Chavez’s
life story, a timeline, a QuickTime movie, bibliography,
newspaper series, and numerous speeches. Additional
information available regarding UFW history and other key
players past and present.
United Farm Workers
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CESAR E. CHAVEZ INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC POLICY
http://www.sfsu.edu/~cecipp/cesar_chavez/chavezhome.htm
In addition to photos, speeches, and links this site chronicles Chavez’s life through articles
regarding his achievements, a biography, a chronology, the union, and the strike.
INSTRUCTIONAL GRAPHICS
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CESAR E. CHAVEZ CROSSWORD PUZZLE
3
Captioned Media Program
VOICE (800) 237-6213 TTY (800) 237-6819 FAX (800) 538-5636 EMAIL [email protected] WEB www.cfv.org
Funding for the Captioned Media Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Education
#9622 CESAR E. CHAVEZ
Captioned Media Program
Cesar E. Chavez
Crossword Puzzle
Directions: Use words from this video to
complete the crossword puzzle.
11
1
2
4
44
5
3
DOWN:
1)
A Spanish-speaking
neighborhood
2)
Founder of the National Farm
Workers Association
4)
A Mexican laborer admitted to
the U.S. especially for seasonal
contracts
5)
Recruited Chavez to work for
the Community Service
Organization
ACROSS:
1)
Halt dealings with a particular
person, business, or
organization in an effort to
change work conditions
3)
Chemicals used by growers to
prevent insects from
contaminating crops
Answers:
Down: 1) BARRIO, 2) CHAVEZ, 4) BRACEROS, 5) ROSS
Across: 1) BOYCOTT, 3) PESTICIDES
Captioned Media Program
VOICE 800-237-6213 TTY 800-237-6819 FAX 800-538-5636 E-MAIL [email protected] WEB www.cfv.org
Funding for the Captioned Media Program is provided by the U.S. Department of Education